COVID-19 (Coronavirus) hub
With the unprecedented impacts from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continuing to affect industry, businesses and supply chains, our content hub aims to keep you up to date with relevant legal implications and news.
We will continue to provide COVID-19 updates on a regular basis. If your business or people are affected and you would like to speak to one of our team, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Business and Commercial tenants
Apr 29: Impact of COVID-19 on telecommunications apparatus. Read more
Apr 28: Lease frustration and COVID-19. Read more
Apr 27: Retailers: new government measures to provide further protection for tenants against aggressive rent collection. Read more
Apr 14: Could I mitigate my losses by using my premises for other purposes? Read more
Apr 2: Business Rates Reform – Response to COVID-19 and the 2020 outlook. Read more
Mar 30: Business Tenant Protection from Forfeiture under the Coronavirus Act 2020. Read more
Mar 25: COVID-19 and Commercial Tenants' Rights Regarding Rent. Read more
Business restructuring
Jul 13: M&A - how due diligence is being changed by coronavirus. Read more
Apr 28: Carluccio's serves up a rescue recipe. Read more
Apr 27: Retailers: new government measures to provide further protection for tenants against aggressive rent collection. Read more
Apr 20: COVID-19: the supply chain. Read more
Apr 14: Could I mitigate my losses by using my premises for other purposes? Read more
Apr 9: COVID-19: Good news on wrongful trading provisions but why should directors tread carefully? Read more
Mar 31: COVID-19 - The suspension of wrongful trading provisions and a moratorium for businesses in restructuring – what is the likely impact on your business? Read more
Competition enforcement
Jun 01: COVID-19: The Dairy Sector and Welsh health services granted temporary UK competition law exemptions and the European Commission issues first 'Comfort Letter' to Pharmaceutical Manufacturers. Read more
Apr 29: COVID-19: What is the CMA's current approach to UK merger assessment? Read more
Apr 6: COVID-19: Coronavirus and competition Law - the current enforcement scene. Read more
Apr 1: COVID-19: CMA provides guidance to business on its approach to co-operation in response to the pandemic. Read more
Corporate debt and treasury
04 May: New 100% government-backed loan scheme for small and medium-sized businesses. Read more
Apr 24: Future fund. Read more
Apr 24: The Financial Ombudsman Service's response to COVID-19. Read more
Apr 20: Regulator urges lenders to carefully consider their responses to borrower's potential breaches of covenants owing to COVID-19. Read more
Apr 9: The new Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme. Read more
Apr 8: Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme – attempts to address inaccessibility. Read more
Mar 30: The government-backed Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme. Read more
Oct 27: Investigations into Coronavirus loan fraud begins. Read More
Nov 26: HMRC paid £400,000 for information relating to tax fraud in past year. Read more
Court hearings
Jul 10: Hong Kong Courts – Further guidance on remote court hearings. Read more
Apr 23: COVID-19 – Hong Kong Courts set for phased reopening from May. Read more
Apr 15: Hong Kong Courts – In with the old and the new technology. Read more
Apr 15: Hong Kong Court of Appeal hears appeal using video conferencing. Read more
Apr 15: Hong Kong courts begin use of video conferencing. Read more
Apr 9: COVID-19: Trials - the show must go on. Read more
Apr 9: “Tech, lies and video-conferencing”: The Court’s implementation of remote hearings. Read more
Mar 27: COVID-19 legal update - Virtual hearings - what we've learned. Read more
Mar 24: COVID-19 legal update - The official guidance on remote hearings; early engagement is key to success. Read more
Mar 20: COVID-19 legal update - Impact on court hearings. Read more
Data and privacy
Jul 13: Restarting your business and implementing Government guidance to support NHS Test and Trace. Read more
Mar 27: Cybersecurity and COVID-19 - Opportunities for change in the face of challenge. Read more
Aug 7: ICO outlines priorities and regulatory approach during the coronavirus public health emergency. Read more
Document signing
Food and drink
Hong Kong updates
October 17 2022: Overseas King's Counsel appearing remotely before Hong Kong's top court. Read more
Apr 4 2022: General adjournment of court proceedings given severity of “5th Wave” of COVID-19. Read more
Dec 10: Recent judgment on ad hoc admission of overseas counsel tells of wider COVID-19 story. Read more
Oct 07: High Court reviews permission for expert reports and delay after general adjourned period. Read more
Sep 17: Witnesses overseas and preparations for trial during a pandemic. Read more
May 5: Court reviews witness’s reluctance to travel to Hong Kong because of COVID-19. Read more
Jan 20 2021: Hong Kong courts further expand remote hearings for civil cases. Read more
Dec 10: Hong Kong courts – Latest guidance on COVID-19 measures. Read more
Nov 11: Hong Kong courts keeping calm and carrying on. Read more
Sep 02: Hong Kong Courts – COVID-19 and Typhoon "Higos". Read more
Aug 10: Hong Kong Courts – COVID-19 Update. Read more
Aug 10: Hong Kong – Refusal to regrant injunction that lapsed during general adjournment successfully appealed. Read more
Jul 10: Hong Kong Courts – Further guidance on remote court hearings. Read more
Jun 17: Hong Kong Courts – Expansion of use of remote hearings. Read more
May 22: Hong Kong Courts – Closing the GAP. Read more
Apr 29: General adjournment in Hong Kong does not extend duration of ex parte injunction. Read more
Apr 29: New virtual insurer for Hong Kong. Read more
Apr 23: COVID-19 – Hong Kong Courts set for phased reopening from May. Read more
Apr 15: Hong Kong Courts – In with the old and the new technology. Read more
Apr 15: Litigation in the time of Coronavirus (Hong Kong - update). Read more
Apr 15: Hong Kong Court of Appeal hears appeal using video conferencing. Read more
Apr 15: Hong Kong courts begin use of video conferencing. Read more
Apr 14: COVID-19 HK: Employment update. Read more
Apr 14: Signing documents during COVID-19 in Hong Kong. Read more
Apr 9: COVID-19 – Hong Kong Courts handling urgent and essential matters. Read more
Insurance
Jun 22: International risk team: Practical issues resulting from the impact of lockdown restrictions on BI/DSU losses. Read more
May 28: Coronavirus – a bumpy road ahead for D&O. Read more
May 12: Aggregation issues in COVID-19 related claims. Read more
May 05: The Atlantik Confidence precautions. Read more
Apr 27: COVID-19: The suspension of wrongful trading provisions and a moratorium for businesses in restructuring: what is the likely impact on Insurers? Read more
Apr 24: Remedy of Avoidance. Read more
Apr 22: International Risk Team: Arbitration in the time of Coronavirus - should Tribunals suspend proceedings? Read more
Apr 20: Practical briefing: Marine Products. Read more
Apr 16: International risk team: The impact of COVID-19 on existing business interruption claims. Read more
Apr 14: International Risk Team: To repair or not to repair. Read more
Apr 8: Certainly Uncertain – The Material Uncertainty Clause. Read more
Apr 7: International risk team: Mitigation in Trade Credit Insurance. Read more
Apr 2: FCA's expectations of insurance firms. Read more
Mar 27: Cybersecurity and COVID-19 - Opportunities for change in the face of challenge. Read more
Mar 26: Insurance broker E&O exposures - COVID-19. Read more
Mar 25: The "war" against Coronavirus - implications for the Life Sciences industry when regulations are loosened. Read more
Mar 23: COVID-19 – Regulatory Update for law firms. Read more
Mar 20: Insureds likely face uphill battle in seeking coverage for Coronavirus losses in both US & UK. Read more
Mar 16: Contingency market Coronavirus briefing - event cancellation. Read more
Mar 12: COVID-19 risk update for UK insurers. Read more
Feb 21: Coronavirus and its damage to the health of businesses. Read more
Feb 20: Novel Coronavirus ("COVID-19") and its potential implications for Business Interruption Insurers. Read more
IP
Litigation
Medical and life sciences
Apr 15: Back to the Future - a look ahead at medical malpractice issues for COVID-19-related claims. Read more
Apr 1: COVID-19 - the battle between fact and fiction. Read more
Mar 25: The "war" against Coronavirus - implications for the Life Sciences industry when regulations are loosened. Read more
Regulatory updates and developments
July 06: Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020: What's changed for companies? Read more
June 12: The curse of COVID strikes again – implementation of the Home Survey Standard delayed. Read more
May 28: Lockdown inspections: Guidance from the RICS. Read more
May 14: COVID-19 Secure – Government Guidance released. Read more
May 12: RICS Guidance and Key Developments for Surveyors: #2 Coronavirus, valuations and "material uncertainty". Read more
May 05: Regulated Activities Order amendments for the new Bounce Back Loan Scheme. Read more
Apr 29: COVID-19: What is the CMA's current approach to UK merger assessment? Read more
Apr 24: The Financial Ombudsman Service's response to COVID-19. Read more
Apr 20: Regulator urges lenders to carefully consider their responses to borrower's potential breaches of covenants owing to COVID-19. Read more
Apr 8: Architects and COVID-19 – Practical Advice on complying with your Professional Standards. Read more
Apr 7: SM&CR temporary arrangements extended to 9 months for FCA solo-regulated firms. Read more
Apr 6: COVID-19 - Coronavirus and Competition Law - The Current Enforcement Scene. Read more
Apr 2: Managing SM&CR during the Coronavirus crisis. Read more
Mar 31: COVID-19 key financial workers. Read more
Mar 30: COVID-19 forces POS and FOS office closures – what does it mean for complaints? Read more
Mar 27: New FCA signposting travel insurance rules. Read more
Mar 27: Key regulatory guidance following COVID-19 pandemic. Read more
Mar 26: COVID-19 legal update – FCA's update for consumers. Read more
Mar 23: COVID-19 – Regulatory Update for law firms. Read more
Mar 23: COVID-19 legal update - FCA's update for firms. Read more
Retail
Jul 07: Restarting your business and implementing Government guidance to support NHS Test and Trace. Read more
Jun 29: COVID-19 Update on Commercial Tenants' Rights Regarding Rent. Read more
Feb 25: 'What if the CEO asks me about…. whether employees need to be vaccinated before coming back to our premises' Read more
May 12: Return of the MAC (clauses): renegotiating or exiting your supply chain contracts. Read more
Mar 31: The Turnover Rent Condurum: Tips For Retailers. Read more
Apr 16: Give retailers a break, lawyers tell creditors. Read more
Apr 14: Could I mitigate my losses by using my premises for other purposes? Read more
Apr 3: COVID-19: The groceries sector - temporary competition law exemption comes into force. Read more
Mar 24: COVID-19 legal update - help for supermarkets and other retailers with competition law compliance in challenging times. Read more
Mar 9: Transformation and risk – what the future holds for retail. Read more
Sep 28: 'What if the CEO asks me... about ESG-linked financing facilities' Read More
Jul 31: Furlough fraud and Government clawback: managing the risk. Read More
Jul 31: Furlough forecast: What kind of employment law claims are on the horizon? Read more
Jul 31: Furlough forecast: What kind of employment law claims are on the horizon? Read more
Singapore updates
Tax
Jul 31: The summer of discontent? Read more
Jul 02: HMRC powers to tackle furlough fraudsters – take action now! Read more
Apr 16: COVID-19 – Now is not the time for businesses to be complacent. Read more
Apr 9: COVID-19: Your workforce – furloughing - act to mitigate the risk of exposure to tax evasion offences as scheme could be open to abuse. Read more
Apr 9: COVID-19 and tax residence. Read more
Mar 26: COVID-19 forces HMRC to temporarily change its stamp duty processes. Read more
Mar 19: Spring budget 2020 - COVID-19 and "time to pay" arrangements. Read more
Sep 02: HMRC's new powers to investigate furlough abuse. Read more
Your workforce
Jul 31: The summer of discontent? Read more
May 20: COVID-19 legal update – Your workforce: Could workers who can work from home (and their employers) break the law by returning to the workplace too soon? Read more
Apr 9: Your workforce – furloughing - act to mitigate the risk of exposure to tax evasion offences as scheme could be open to abuse. Read more
Mar 27: COVID-19 legal update - Your workforce: a Q&A on claiming for wage costs through the Job Retention Scheme. Read more
Mar 27: COVID-19 legal update - Your workforce: a caution against putting equality on the backburner. Read more
Mar 24: COVID-19 legal update - Your workforce: pay and costs - practical ideas our clients are exploring. Read more
Mar 24: COVID-19 legal update - Your workforce: supporting mental health when home working. Read more
Mar 24: COVID-19 legal update - What on earth is "furlough"? Read more